​Somalia: Five killed in mortar attack in Mogadishu

MOGADISHU, Somalia- At least five civilians have been killed and seven others injured after mortar shells landed at residential area in Somalia's capital Mogadishu on Tuesday, Garowe Online reports.

A mortar shell slammed into primary school "Hassan Qaridid" in the Shanta-Geed suburb in Howlwadag district, killing four students and a teacher, according to witness who spoke to GO over the phone.

Ambulance arrived the scene, and ferried the wounded to hospitals in the capital for treatment, said Capt Omar Abdullah Ja'afar, a Police officer, who has confirmed the incident.

"It's a terrorist attack on educational institutions and on students," said Ja'afar, adding that several other mortar rounds have landed on homes in Wardhigley district, in the vicinity of Presidential Palace.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks, but al-Shabaab which aims to topple the UN-backed Federal government in Mogadishu, has previously took responsibility for such mortar fire in the capital.

Last Sunday, Somali security forces shot dead two suspected al-Shabaab members who fired mortar shells at a village in Wadajir district near Mogadishu's Aden Adde International Airport.

GAROWEONLINE